Dana Massing: Mice, spiders signal love, spring

Before you go judging my housekeeping skills or think I like to surround myself with different critters, let me explain that the first is a sign of love and the second a sign of spring.

I do already have two typical pets, both cats. The youngest is a 4-year-old named Teddy who is equally cuddly and playful. The mouse was his.

Fortunately, it wasn't real.

I'm lucky that I've never had a live rodent invade my home. Even when I lived in a flat, the mice stayed in the downstairs apartment and never ventured up to my level, probably due to the cat I had then.

My current youngest mouse deterrent likes to bring me his toys. Usually he drops them at my feet as I sit on the couch because he wants me to throw them for him to fetch. Yes, I did say Teddy is a cat, not a dog. And yes, he likes to play fetch.

Occasionally, he deposits one of his mouse toys on my bed.

I've read that it's normal and natural for cats to bring such gifts to their people, sort of a trophy that the cat is proud of but also wants to share with its family.

So I welcome these little gifts of love, as long as they continue to be toy mice.

As for the spider, it's alive and one like it has shown up in my bathroom every spring since I moved into the house. They're welcome to stay, rent-free, if they live by my rules.

As long as the spider sticks to the ceiling, he or she is welcome to go about doing spider things. But if that spider decides to drop to my level, game over.

I only remember one who broke the rule and was immediately evicted. The rest eventually disappeared over time on their own.

I don't know why they visit or where they come from or go to. But since they always seem to arrive with spring, I've learned to like them.

After this cold and snowy winter, I even found myself looking for a spider in my bathroom, eager for an indication that spring was finally really coming.

Now I just hope this week's weather doesn't scare my spring spider away.

DANA MASSING can be reached at 870-1729. Send e-mail to dana.massing@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNmassing.